Quick & Easy Italian Salad (Cabbage Salad)

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This easy dump-and-go salad recipe is crunchy, zingy, hearty and refreshing. It’s loaded with vitamins and minerals, as well as protein and healthy fats.

My quick and easy Italian salad is going to make meal-prepping and eating healthier so easy this summer, because this cabbage salad keeps much longer than the traditional version with shredded lettuce.

My Italian cabbage salad can be made days in advance, and it won’t wilt and get soggy like the classic Italian salad.

The crisp, crunchy cabbage and broccoli are nutrition powerhouses with tons of fiber and antioxidants, and they are scrumptious in this satisfying, savory meal-in-a-salad.

No heating up the kitchen —no hours of chopping and slicing — just a quick, easy and delicious dinner salad. Or meal-prep it and take it for lunch all week. It’s the perfect, easy, and nutritious solution whenever you need a quick salad.

You’re gonna love it!

Ingredient Details

• Coleslaw Mix: You can definitely opt for just shredded cabbage. For the most economical salad, you can even shred your own cabbage. But I was shooting for lots of quick and easy variety. The coleslaw mix I buy contains green cabbage, purple cabbage (red cabbage) and shredded carrots. It’s an easy dump-and-go solution in recipes like Homemade Egg Rolls, Egg Roll Bowls and Coleslaw with Homemade Coleslaw Dressing, too.
• Broccoli Slaw Mix: I love the flavor and crunch broccoli slaw adds to salads. It is grated broccoli stems with a few grated carrots and some purple cabbage for color. You can use it in my Broccoli Ramen Slaw recipe, too.
• Red Onion: Although I didn’t manage to include it in the ingredient picture, red onion is an integral part of an Italian salad. We LOVE it and opt for more than less in salads. It’s just personal preference. Adjust the amounts to fit your family’s personal tastes.
• Sliced Olives: Again, quick and easy. Slice your own if you prefer.
• Grape or Cherry Tomatoes: I love the Constellation mix with its beautiful array of colors. Grab what’s easy, affordable and available at your store.
• Salami: I used hard salami, but there are different kinds. Choose your favorite variety of salami.
• Italian Salad Dressing: I love Italian dressing, and I’m currently hooked on the Olive Garden bottled dressing. Quick and easy! Choose your favorite brand or make your own.
• Optional Garnishes: You know me. I love a good garnish that adds a pop of eye-appeal. As individual Italian salads are served, I like to add chopped fresh parsley, freshly grated Parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper. They’re all just a little something extra and not integral to the recipe. Leave them out if money is tight.

Tips and Variations for Easy Cabbage Salad

Try different greens: Especially if you’re not planning on leftovers or on keeping this salad for multiple days, Try experimenting with varying mixes of salad like romaine or iceberg, baby spinach or a bag of Spring mix. When you eat the salad in one sitting, these more delicate greens will easily hold up for a few hours without wilting or getting soggy. You can try mixing any of those greens with the cabbage or broccoli slaw, too. There are tons of possibilities.

Mix in other vegetables: With meal-prepping and/or leftovers in mind, radishes, celery, and bell peppers will hold up well over several days. If serving for a potluck or a meal where you will finish the entire salad, consider artichokes, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, zucchini, pepperoncini peppers, cucumbers and even roasted red peppers. These higher moisture veggies will add delicious flavor and nutrition, and for a short time, won’t water down the salad or make it soggy.

Amp up the protein: Try adding some chickpeas or any of your favorite beans to increase the amount of protein in your Italian salad. Add sliced almonds or walnuts for extra crunch and added protein, too.

Dress the Salad at the Table: If, in fact, you do choose more delicate greens for your salad, choose to dress it at the table just before serving rather than allowing the greens to soak in the dressing for an extended period of time. That will help keep your salad crisp, crunchy and texturally perfect.

Add croutons: Add croutons to the the list of garnishes for extra crunch and to soak up the delicious dressing.

Add Cheese: I’ve seen Mozzarella pearls added to this salad, but in my opinion they add too much moisture. I prefer grated cheese — part-skim Mozzarella, Parmesan, and Romano are our favorites.

How to Make Italian Salad

1. Drain the olives.
2. Slice the salami into thin strips and cut the onion into thin slivers.
3. Pour the coleslaw mix and broccoli slaw into a large mixing bowl.
4. Add the drained olives, slivered onions, and salami strips to the salad bowl.
5. Halve the tomatoes as you add them to the salad.
6. Toss everything to combine and serve with your favorite Italian dressing. (If you will be serving at a dinner party or a potluck, toss the salad with the Italian dressing just before serving. If you are planning for leftovers or meal-prep through the week, keep the dressing on the side and allow everyone to dress their individual portions.)